Tigers of the Ice: Dr. Elisha Kane's Harrowing struggle to survive in the Arctic

By Charles Patton

Based on a true story where one ship and crew attempted to find an explorer who disappeared with two ships and 129 men and became ice-bound in the process. Kane and his crew struggled against the elements, polar bears, the Esquimaux, and mutiny among its men. Embark on a perilous journey with Captain Kane and his crew, battling Arctic elements, polar bears, and mutiny, all in search of a vanished explorer and his lost ships. In a relentless struggle for survival, they confront natural and human adversaries, forging ahead with unwavering courage and determination through the icy wilderness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: May 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9781963809015

Book preview

Notice

This story is inspired by true events. However, dialogue and certain events and characters in this work are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. This is not a historical account but only a dramatization of an amazing story of survival and death.

This fictional story is built around the true experiences of Dr. Elisha Kane. Dr. Kane and his men lived in an era when, for the most part, men were much tougher than most are today!

This novel is rooted in historical facts and uses the term 'Esquimaux' to accurately reflect the language of the time for Indigenous Arctic residents, now correctly referred to as 'Inuit'. This choice is not intended to uphold outdated or disrespectful views, and the depiction of Esquimaux characters is respectful.

We also use the historical term sledge as they did to refer to their dog sleds.

Short Mystery Press

ISBN: 978-1-963809-04-6

  (Amazon)

Written for and sponsored by:

Applied Market Solutions, LLC

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Orlando, FL 32819

The book that inspired this work of fiction is: Arctic Explorations, the Second Grinnell Expedition, in search of Sir John Franklin 1853, ’54, ’55 by Elisha Kent Kane, M.D., U.S.N., Vol I and II, Philadelphia, Childs & Peterson, 124 Arch Street, et alia, 1856.

All the line drawings are from Kane’s original text and, I believe, drawn by him except his portrait which was credited to R. Whitechurch.

Book template by usedtotech.com.

Polar Bear image courtesy of William Curtis Rolf.

Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this book: I found OpenAI’s chatGPT™ Ver 4.2 useful in cleaning up, simplifying, fleshing out, rearranging my dyslexic sentences, and researching sources. I am responsible for all the writing.

In Tigers of the Ice, Arctic polar bears are likened to tigers, symbolizing their mastery over harsh environments and status at the top of their food chains. This metaphor underscores their shared tenacity and alludes to Dr. Elisha Kent Kane's crew's strength and resilience in the Arctic. The polar bear also emerges as a spiritual intermediary, linking the Arctic's elemental forces, the Esquimaux and Kane's explorers, representing a profound bond between humans, nature, and the Arctic's mystique.

Contents

Notice

Introduction

I. Arctic Whispers and Roars

II. Siren’s Calls

III. Kane in Command

IV. Fiskernaes Journey

V. Beyond Upernavik

VI. Northern Waters

VII. Arctic Challenges

VIII. Winter Shelter

IX. Abyss of Rats

X:  Failed Search

XI: Esquimaux Encounters

XII. Kane's Struggle

XIII. Godfrey Departs

XIV. Harrowing Winter

XV. Esquimaux Return

XVI. Calamity Strikes

XVII. Prodigal Return

XVIII. Point of No Return

XIX. Theft & Escape

XX. Food & Message

XXI. Departure

XXII. Final Journey to Etah

XXIII. Leaving Etah

XXIV. Scarcity & Loss

XXV. Last Bullet

XXVI. Return Home

The End

PostScript

Introduction

In the frigid heart of the Arctic, where the world's edges blur and the icy abyss stretches endlessly, a realm beckons to the souls of intrepid adventurers and fearless explorers. It is a place where the very air crackles with mystery, and the shimmering Northern Lights sing like a celestial chorus to the tales of hardship and heroism.

Welcome to a world of perilous ambition and relentless determination, where the names John Franklin and Doctor Elisah Kane echo through the frozen corridors of time. In this story of Arctic exploration, we embark on a journey that transcends the boundaries of human ambition.

The years are 1853, 1854, and 1855, when Dr. Kane ventured north to determine the fate of the enigmatic Captain Sir John Franklin, a seasoned seafarer who had been missing for six long years. An intrepid explorer, Franklin had set his sights on an audacious mission—discovering the fabled Northwest Passage. This elusive maritime route said to traverse the ice-bound archipelago of northern Canada, promised a shortcut to the riches of the Orient. But it was a path fraught with peril, shrouded in legend, and cloaked in ice.

In 1845, Franklin and his crew embarked on their perilous quest, but when they failed to return, Kane and others followed with hopes of discovery or rescue, leading to a harrowing battle against the unforgiving wilderness for all involved.

At the heart of our story lies an unsolved mystery that haunts the expedition—the unexplained disappearance of Franklin and his two ships: the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror with 129 men. As the world waited anxiously for news of their fate, several attempts to determine their whereabouts had already failed. Our journey with Kane will plunge us deep into the Arctic's icy heart, where secrets lie buried beneath layers of frost and snow, amidst towering icebergs that menace ships, and where cunning predators lurk beneath the unforgiving sea and behind every hummock, blurring the line between survival and oblivion. We will witness the unyielding bonds of camaraderie that form amidst the hardships of the frozen frontier and the quiet moments of introspection that stir the souls of those who dare to venture into the unknown.

In the unforgiving Arctic, where the cold can freeze the soul as surely as it can freeze the sea, Dr. Kane's relentless search for John Franklin is a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity and the enduring allure of the unknown. Our story begins in the Arctic in 1851, before Kane’s search.

I. Arctic Whispers and Roars

Beneath the flapping canvas of his two-man tent on the Davis Strait's icy expanse, Dr. Elisha Kane sat hunched over a small table, diligently recording his day's findings. The U.S. Navy had assigned him to assist the Canadian government with surveying the untouched geology in a remote area at the northern extremity of Newfoundland's northeast coast beyond the Arctic Circle. Kane, a robust officer with the seasoned appearance of a veteran sea captain, possessed intense, deep brown eyes and light brown hair. He casually wore his navy-blue pea coat open, and his wool cap rakishly tilted back on his head in the low-teen temperatures.

From his vantage point on the icy shoreline, Kane gazed upon a mesmerizing landscape of rolling hummocks and towering blocks of ice, their colors shifting between translucent blue and stark white. Some reached staggering heights of up to 15 feet, chaotically strewn as far as the eye could see. The Arctic horizon glowed with the muted orange of a setting sun, casting its waning light across the camp. This ethereal light gently brushed Kane's sledge, and the dogs tethered nearby, dusting them in shades of deep violet and burnished gold.

Out of the stillness, a harrowing scream echoed, swiftly followed by a guttural roar that shattered Kane's moment of solitude.

Without hesitation, he sprang from his stool, seized his Marston rifle, and sprinted toward the alarming noise, nimbly navigating the maze of hummocks.

A chaotic fray burst into view as he came around a massive, ten-foot-tall ice block. A juvenile polar bear relentlessly attacked Henri Bellot, Kane's French-Canadian compatriot, landing forceful blows with its massive paws upon Henri's shoulders and flanks. With a swift, fierce swipe, the bear sent Henri's elongated knit hat flying, narrowly missing his head as he dodged the strike. Rearing up on its hind legs, even though young, the bear towered over Henri, who stood at a modest five-foot-four.

Hold on, Henri, Kane shouted. I'm here.

Caught in the bear's embrace, Henri pushed upwards against the bear's chin, fiercely struggling until he managed to wriggle free. In his effort, momentum sent him tumbling backward. In a swift move, the bear pounced, sinking its teeth into Henri's thigh. Finding no clear line of fire, Kane discarded his rifle and snatched a harpoon from Henri's nearby sledge.

Swinging the harpoon by its shaft, Kane struck the bear's head with the blunt end, intentionally avoiding the weapon's lethal point. Undeterred, the bear shook its head like a wet dog shedding water.

In the continuing battle, Kane received shallow claw marks across his chest after diverting the bear's attention from Henri. Kane took another swing at the bear with the harpoon's handle, but it went wide. In its retaliatory lunge, the bear impaled itself on the harpoon's tip, the blade sinking partially into its chest. Locked in a fierce embrace, Kane and the bear wrestled, their blood intertwining and dripping on the icy ground. Then, the bear abruptly released Kane and retreated, leaving him stunned and panting.

Kane held firm; eyes locked on the receding bear. Henri, gathering his strength, managed to crawl and then, shakily, get to his feet. He made his way to where Kane's discarded rifle lay, retrieved it, and, positioning himself beside Kane, took aim at the departing beast.

Shaking from the adrenaline and exertion, Henri knelt, resting his left elbow on his knee for a steadier shot. But just as his finger began to apply pressure to the trigger, Kane, looming over him, seized the rifle's barrel, jerking it upwards. The unexpected motion sent Henri sprawling backward, the shot discharging harmlessly into the sky.

I had him in my sights, Henri exclaimed, voice tinged with disbelief. Why did you stop me? That beast almost took my life!

Kane, his hand instinctively resting on the fresh claw marks across his chest, watched as the bear vanished into the labyrinth of icy mounds. Henri remained on his knees, breath ragged. With a steadying hand on Henri's shoulder, Kane anchored him as they both witnessed the bear's fading silhouette.

As the bear disappeared, Kane withdrew his hand, extending the other to help Henri to his feet. Once upright, Henri retrieved a whisky flask from inside his coat, punctured by a bear's claw. He sipped from the rivulet of amber liquid escaping the gash.

But he didn't. Now, we're all survivors, Kane said.

When did you start showing charity towards bears? Incredulous, Henri murmured as they retraced their steps to their camp.

As they rounded the final hummock before their camp, a jarring sight confronted them: nearly all their belongings—the sledge, dogs, table, and supplies—had vanished. Only the empty tent stood, its flaps billowing in the wind. Kane's journal lay discarded on the ice, its pages ruffling in the wind's embrace. Further north, they could see two Esquimaux rapidly pulling Kane's possessions on his sledge, drawn by his dogs.

Kane relieved Henri of the rifle, squinting down its barrel. Henri gave a discouraging shake of his head. Understanding the distance and their scarce ammunition, Kane decided against taking the shot. Their predicament grew more dire with Kane's scratches and Henri's injuries from the bear encounter.

Left with only Henri's sledge and dogs, a rifle with a single moisture-sensitive cartridge, and no food, fuel, or means to produce drinkable water, their journey to the nearest settlement pushed them to the brink of death. While they survived, the harrowing ordeals Kane and Henri faced during this trip left Kane with deep-seated resentment towards the Esquimaux, whom he saw as threats on par with the perils of navigating ice, polar bears, and enduring frigid temperatures.

From his Arctic experiences, Kane found solace and an idea that sparked an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Driven by curiosity and the Arctic's allure, he envisioned leading an audacious expedition to uncover Sir John Franklin's enigmatic fate in the frigid Arctic wilderness, taking two years to germinate fully.

II. Siren’s Calls

A person with a mustache and a large coat Description automatically generated

Dr. Elisha Kane

A few years had elapsed since Kane's Arctic experiences and honorable discharge from the Navy, where he had achieved the rank of captain. Yet, the allure of adventure and the relentless call of duty still coursed through his veins. During these years, he took it upon himself to embark on a perilous mission, a decision During these years, he solidified his determination and worked out a plan to embark on the perilous mission he had envisioned on the Davis Strait, borne from an unshakeable determination that sprang from within.

This mission carried the weight of history and mystery—a British explorer, the esteemed Sir John Franklin, had ventured into the unknown, vanishing without a trace along with 129 brave souls and two sturdy ships. Their destination lay near Baffin Bay or somewhere farther west, nestled within the Arctic Circle, south and west of Greenland.

Silence had enveloped Franklin's expedition for almost four years, extinguishing the once-burning flames of hope. In its place, a groundswell of determination rose in England and the United States, demanding an expedition to confirm their loss and unearth any fragment of evidence that could be salvaged from the frozen north.

With his seasoned experience in the unforgiving northern realms, Kane believed he possessed the qualifications to spearhead a perilous search endeavor. Yet, he understood the bitter truth that clung to the expedition's frigid trail—little hope remained of discovering any of the men alive. And yet, he went ahead, driven by an unyielding spirit and sense of duty, willing to again confront the chilling unknown and its secrets concealed in the Arctic wilderness.

In the brisk early spring of 1853, Dr. Kane found himself in the grand lobby of the Department of the Navy's headquarters in Washington. He stood there, momentarily transfixed, lost in contemplation, his gaze fixated on